The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-09-21

" III L .lii.
her faithful ally, she foraged the gar
dens of the town for plants in full leaf
and blossom, and with them adorned
the doctors study. The place where
one works ought to be bright and
cheerful she said '.Now that winter
is near, we must have u mory of the
summer and prophecy of the
spring"
Arnim awaited with impatience the
hour for lessons when she would come
bounding into his study. What stolen
glances he would cast at her over his
manuscript! How full Of grace and
charm was her every movement, how
in every word and action she reminded
him of HortenSe. Some times ii seemed
to him as if he We're again I youth who
must look II lis Syhool-Iooks and
rush out into forest.
When Desiree had vanished, he
would laugh at his infatuation, and
gazing into the mirror say. derisively:
Foolish graybearl, throw these
flowers out of the window and close
your door! Marianne is right, this
young girl disquets you.
And yet he would rather throw wide
open the door to admit among his old
foios this CLEAN of youthful brightness,
this refreshing breath Of spring.
Marianne frowned upon this indoor
flower planting which Soiled the Win
dow-ledges and made extra work. But
as Desiree took al the work upon her
self, and Ivan stood by TO wipe away
every water-stain, she only shrugged
her shoulders. As for Ivan. every thing
Desiree did enchanted him; he fol-
lowed her about ike faithful hound.
Tie relations between the two women
were tolerable, though without warmth
cu either side. Thanks to the cloister
sisters, Desiree was very skillful with
her needle. She was also industrious
and showed grea. taste in all matters
of dress. Marianne utilized this taste
and skill in many ways. She was
learning to speak French so elegantly
that she concluded not to send Desiree
away before spring.
Arnim proved model teacher. He
found delight in this daily concern
with intellectual things, with truth,
science and beauty. His pupils ardor
and ready comprehension animated
him, and she in turn looked up to him
with gratitude and admiration. She
hungered and thirsted for knowledge,
and the lesson hour became to both the
happiest of the day.
"When spring comes we will pursue
our studies in the open air" said the
doctor. Il shall not let You so until
you are thoroughly grounded in all you
need to learn.
Desiree was silent, but her beaming
eyes expressed her delight in the pros
pect of a longer stay.
'May I not call you uncle?" she
asked one day with many bushes. "My
mother was dear to you and You are the
best friend I have in the world.
s.I shall always remain your true
friend my child" said the doctor, press
ing her hand. Hortense's daughter
must not address me as q stranger.
Certainly you may call me uncle" :"
"But I need not call Marianne
aunt2" she said, anxiously, Il fear I
can not
30, Marianne would be the last one
10 wish it, he answered, laughing.
Marianne was surprised at the new
mode of address, yet she thought it
quite proper. ''Desiree is q child, !"
she said, land must be treated as
such. am willing to have her remain
here through the winter. She cheers
you up. cousin, and is q sort of play
thing for you. You men need to be
amused"
He had become remarkably cheerful,
this grave Russian doctor-he was in
fact almost jovial. He passed much
less time in his study. he took long
walks with Desiree while Marianne in
dulged in her favorite social dissipation
AN afternoon coffee. In spite Of the
wintry weather, they walked mostly in
the forest. Marianne, when invited by
her cousin to accompany him any
where, drove him to desperation by
iler slow and elaborate preparations.
but Desiree, quickly equipped as a sol
tlier on the march, would be ready in a
moment.
Evenings the doctor often read aloud.
finding in Desiree the most interested
of listeners. While Marianne was al
ways interrupting with irrelevant ques-
tions and remarks, Desiree would now
and then lether work fall and gaze silent
aud intent into his face. To Arnim the
glance of those eyes was more eloquent
than words. Still, when he closed the
book, II was 4 delight to listen to the
young girls lively remarks and COM
ments, to answer her questions. The
more charming the conversation, the
more sure it was to be speedily ended
10y Marianne's peevish, authoritative
announcement that it was time for bed.
While a serious reading of the claS-
sics formed part Of the course Of
study, there was also time for much
fugitive poetry andromarce- hseemed
to the doctor as if. in taking into his